Everyone needs a creative outlet to resort to when they feel bogged down by the routine of daily life. While for some it is singing or dancing, for others, it is engaging in the creation of various crafts to satisfy their creative genius. Among these is decoupage, a tedious yet fulfilling hobby that can help transform just about anything from blah to WOW! Decoupage is a French word, that literally means, to cut. It refers to an application of colorful pictures that have been cut out of various sources such as postcards, magazines, comics, newspapers, gift wrapping paper, wallpaper, paper napkins, thin fabric, etc., and then pasted on various items such as furniture, lampshades, files and folders, etc., using a specific decoupage glue. It was traditionally an art form practiced by the poor, who couldn't afford expensive items of home décor. The item that has been decoupaged is usually varnished several times to give it a natural look, so that the pasted image merges with the piece of furniture and looks like a part of it. Apart from the basic paper cutouts, a lot of elements can be added to enhance such artistic creations. These include beads, wallpaper leftovers, shells, sequins, feathers, ribbons, buttons, wooden shavings, and other such items. When creating any item to be decoupaged, ensure that you first decide the layout of the pictures and other elements you are pasting on them so that you get a neat finished product. The base for decoupage can be almost anything. While we provide some ideas here, remember that your options are not limited, and anything can inspire you for a wonderful decoupage project or activity. While a lot of people prefer to look through decoupage ideas and recreate them, as you can see, the options are not limited. You can jazz up almost anything with this lovely craft. Think shoes, Christmas ornaments, coasters, files and folders, notebooks, totes, switch plates, and much more. Use these items for home décor or give them as gifts. Just remember to enjoy the process and appreciate your creation at the end of it all.